The end of #JaysCancerJourney

#JaysCancerJourney

One year ago, our young 59yr old dad started getting very sick and was unable to work. His primary care doctor couldn’t figure out what was wrong with him until about nine months ago when they found his cancer on a CT scan.

At that time, his urologist said the size indicated to be Stage I-II. Jay was given the choice of either removing just the tumor or taking his entire kidney, in hopes to rid his body of cancer altogether. He chose the later and scheduled surgery just three weeks later. Unfortunately Jay got Covid and had to push the procedure back three more weeks.

On Feb 28th, the surgeon proceeded to remove the kidney but discovered the cancer had spread from inside the kidney, to outside the kidney and to two nearby lymph nodes near the vena cava. Unknowingly our family waited three times the anticipated surgery length all to find out what we thought was Stage I maybe Stage II to Stage III.

The surgeon was able to remove all the cancer visible but he immediately referred Jay to Oncology where they would order bloodwork, more CT scans, and a PET Scan to see if the cancer had spread anywhere else.

Just three months after discovering the cancer, Jay was diagnosed with Stage IV, Urothelial Transitional Cell Carcinoma. Doctor Mattar offered every ounce of hope he could for treatment options that would extend Jays life but unfortunately reported that his cancer is terminal and even with treatment, the best case scenario would only give him 2-5yrs.

We were excited to hear that a new treatment option was available that proved to be very successful in extending life expectancy so being that Jay was so young, we were all very hopeful.

Unfortunately the cancer treatment options themselves caused Steven Johnson’s syndrome and Guillan-barré syndrome that almost killed him and caused irreversible damage. During that time Jay lost feeling in his hands and feet, rendering him unable to walk, use his hands, and fully care for himself. After seven hospitalizations, Jay was very tired and decided to go home on Hospice.

On Oct 23rd, a short six weeks on Hospice, the nurse said Jays health began to decline at a dramatic rate. My seven siblings, other family, and I would rush to be by his side with my mother. We watched him go from smiling, joyful, and playing his beloved harmonica, to being bed bound. After just four days, he stopped eating and drinking. By Tuesday night, he no longer opened his eyes.

On October 31st at 11:39, many of us surrounded him as he took his last breath.

We are grateful for the time we had with him and we have peace knowing he accepted salvation months prior and now is pain free and at eternal peace in Heaven.

We would like to give him a wonderful home-going service and help all eight kids afford to have some time to be together to grieve this very difficult loss.

Funeral costs: $12,112.50

Celebration of life food and facility rental: $850

Travel and time off work for his children: $2,000

Venmo: @Alaxandra-Lostlen

Cashapp: $AlaxandraLostlen

We would appreciate your prayers and ask that you would consider contributing.

Thank you and as Jay would say, “Love ya!”